Differential Induction of Flavonoids in Groundnut in Response to Helicoverpa armigera and Aphis craccivora Infestation.

Flavonoids are important plant secondary metabolites, which protect plants from various stresses, including herbivory. Plants differentially respond to insects with different modes of action. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprinting of phenols of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) plants with differential levels of resistance was carried out in response to Helicoverpa armigera (chewing insect) and Aphis craccivora (sucking pest) infestation. The genotypes used were ICGV 86699, ICGV 86031, ICG 2271 (NCAc 343), ICG 1697 (NCAc 17090), and JL 24. Most of the identified compounds were present in H. armigera- and A. craccivora-infested plants of ICGV 86699. Syringic acid was observed in all the genotypes across the treatments, except in the uninfested control plants of ICG 2271 and aphid-infested plants of ICG 1697. Caffeic acid and umbelliferone were observed only in the H. armigera-infested plants of ICGV 86699. Similarly, dihydroxybenzoic acid and vanillic acid were observed in H. armigera- and aphid-infested plants of ICG 2271 and JL 24, respectively. The peak areas were transformed into the amounts of compounds by using internal standard peak areas and were expressed in nanograms. Quantities of the identified compounds varied across genotypes and treatments. The common compounds observed were chlorogenic, syringic, quercetin, and ferulic acids. These results suggest that depending on the mode of feeding, flavonoids are induced differentially in groundnut plants.

Introduction

Plants produce a number of secondary metabolites in response to insect herbivory, pathogens, and other stresses.1,2 Secondary metabolites such as phenols are the most important and abundant group of plant defensive compounds involved in defense against herbivory.1–5 Flavonoids and isoflavonoids directly affect insect behavior, growth, and development by influencing the steroid hormone systems.3,5,6 They are powerful antibiotics and form complexes with various enzymes, thus restricting the availability of dietary proteins to insect pests.7,8 Moreover, phenols are oxidized by plant defensive enzymes into toxic compounds such as quinones, which in turn bind to leaf proteins, inhibiting digestion in herbivores.9,10 They also act as scavengers of a number of highly reactive and unstable reactive oxygen species.11 Flavonoids such as chlorogenic and caffeic acids are highly toxic to insect pests.12,13 Some flavonoids including isorhamnetin-3-sophoroside-7-glucoside and kaempferol-3,7-diglucoside act as feeding deterrents against Mamestra configurata (Walk.).14 In addition, phenols attract the natural enemies of insect pests, thus indirectly defending the plants.15 Alteration in phenols occurs in plants when they encounter various stresses including insect herbivory.2,4,5,7,16

Induction of flavonoids in plants in response to insect pests will serve as important biochemical markers for induced resistance against insect pests and for the selection of resistant lines in breeding programmes. To test the hypothesis that induction of flavonoids in plants depends on the insect-feeding habits and the levels of host plant resistance, groundnut genotypes with differential levels of resistance were infested with Helicoverpa armigera (Hub.) and Aphis craccivora Koch, chewing and sap-sucking pests, respectively.

Materials and Methods

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) plants and insect infestation

Five groundnut genotypes ICGV 86699, ICGV 86031, ICG 2271 (NCAc 343), ICG 1697 (NCAc 17090) (with moderate levels of resistance to insects), and JL 24 (susceptible check)17 were grown under greenhouse conditions at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, India. The greenhouse was cooled by desert coolers to maintain the temperature at 26°C ± 5°C and the relative humidity at 65% ± 5%. The H. armigera larvae were obtained from the stock culture maintained under laboratory conditions (26°C ± 1°C; 11 ± 0.5 hours photoperiod, and 75% ± 5% RH) from the insect-rearing laboratory at ICRISAT. The aphid culture was maintained on groundnut plants under glasshouse conditions. Fifteen pots, with three plants in each pot, were maintained for each genotype. A 20-day-old plant in each pot was enclosed in a plastic cage (11 cm diameter and 26 cm in height). In each genotype, five caged plants were infested with 10 H. armigera neonates and five with 10 apteral adults of A. craccivora. Five plants similarly enclosed in plastic cages were maintained as uninfested control.

HPLC fingerprinting

After six days of insect infestation, leaves were collected from insect-infested and uninfested control plants and extracted in methanol for HPLC fingerprinting. The leaves were extracted thrice with methanol, and the extracts were pooled together. There were three replicates for each treatment/genotype. The HPLC system used was of Waters Series consisting of a Separation module (2695) with Controller (600) and equipped with photodiode array detector (2996). Methanolic extracts were filtered through a polyvinyl difluoride filter (PVDF; Millipore, Millex-GV, filter 0.22 μm diameter) membrane before HPLC analysis. Separation of the compounds was performed on an Atlantis C18 column (4.6 mm × 250 mm) at a flow rate of 1 mL minute−1 for 40 minutes with 20 μL injected volume of the extract. The column was used at ambient temperature. The mobile phase was water (A) and acetonitrile (B) (v/v) containing 1% orthophosphoric acid. The mobile phase was filtered through a 0.45 μm membrane filter and deaerated using a sonicator (D-Compact, 443). The elution profile used was 0–5 minutes, 65% A, 35% B (isocratic); 5–12 minutes, 35%–40% B in A (linear gradient); 12–20 minutes, 40%–45% B in A (linear gradient); 20–30 minutes, 55% A, 45% B (isocratic); 30–35 minutes, 45%–35% B in A (linear gradient); and 35–40 minutes, 65% A, 35% B. All compounds were identified by comparing their HPLC retention times to those of authentic standards. The peak area of each identified compound was transformed into quantities of the compounds and was expressed in nanograms using internal standard peak areas.

Statistical analysis

The quantities of the compounds across treatments and genotypes were subjected to analysis of variance using SPSS (15.1). The mean values were separated by Tukey’s/multiple comparison tests when the treatment effects were statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05).

Results

Most of the identified compounds were present in H. armigera- and aphid-infested plants of ICGV 86699. Syringic acid was observed in all the genotypes and treatments, except in the control and aphid-infested plants of ICG 2271 and ICG 1697, respectively. The quantities of identified compounds differed significantly across treatments and the genotypes (Table 1). Concentration of chlorogenic acid was significantly greater in A. craccivora (32,954.21 ng)-infested plants of ICGV 86031 followed by H. armigera-infested plants of ICG 1697 (11,477.63 ng), uninfested control plants of ICG 1697 (9719.77 ng), and H. armigera-infested plants of ICG 2271 (9222.49 ng). Aphid-infested plants of ICGV 86031 had significantly greater syringic acid content (5942.56 ng) than the rest of the genotypes and/or treatments. This was followed by the infested plants of ICG 1697 (4304.26 ng). Catechin content was greater in the aphid-infested plants of ICG 1697 (5813.26 ng) followed by the uninfested control plants of ICG 2271 (5178.97 ng) across all the genotypes and/or treatments. Genistin percentage peak area was also significantly greater in H. armigera-infested plants of JL 24 (64,493.32 ng). The uninfested control plants of ICGV 86699 had greater genistin content (5627.37 ng) than in the control plants of rest of the genotypes. Ferulic acid content was significantly greater in aphid-infested plants of ICG 2271 (1775.45 ng) than the rest of the treatments and/or genotypes. Significantly greater quercetin content was found in aphid-infested plants of ICG 2271 (308.91 ng) than the rest of the treatments and/or genotypes. Cinnamic acid content was high in H. armigera-infested plants of ICG 1697 (308.03 ng). Caffeic acid and umbelliferone were observed only in H. armigera-infested plants of ICGV 86699 (20.91 and 87.80 ng, respectively). Dihydroxybenzoic acid was reported only in H. armigera-infested plants of ICG 2271 (1201.06 ng), while vanillic acid was observed in aphid-infested plants of JL 24 (190.33 ng). The peak heights and areas were greater in the insect-infested plants than in the uninfested control plants (data not shown). The number of peaks also varied across the genotypes and treatments. The H. armigera-infested plants of ICGV 86699 had more number of peaks (16) as compared to A. craccivora-infested (9) and uninfested control plants (8; Fig. 1). H. armigera-infested and A. craccivora-infested plants of ICGV 86031 showed equal number of peaks (eight each). The uninfested control plants had six peaks (Fig. 2). In ICG 2271, more number of peaks were observed in A. craccivora-infested plants (15) as compared to the H. armigera-infested (6) and uninfested control plants (6; Fig. 3). The number of peaks observed in HPLC chromatogram of ICG 1697 was seven in H. armigera-infested, eight in A. craccivora-infested, and eight in uninfested control plants (Fig. 4). The chromatogram of JL 24 had seven, six, and five peaks, respectively, for H. armigera, A. craccivora, and uninfested control plants (Fig. 5). Chlorogenic and syringic acids were the main compounds found in all the genotypes. The H. armigera-infested plants of ICGV 86699 and A. craccivora-infested plants of ICG 2271 had chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, catechin, genistin, ferulic acid, vanillic acid, umbelliferone, and quercetin as the main identified compounds in the former and syringic acid, genistin, ferulic acid, and cinnamic acid in the latter. Moreover, chlorogenic and syringic acids were found in almost all the chromatograms.

Table 1

Amounts of the identified compounds in HPLC chromatograms of H. armigera-, aphid-infested, and uninfested control plants of groundnut.

PEAK (COMPOUND)	AMOUNT OF THE COMPOUNDS (ng)
	ICGV 86699			ICGV 86031			ICG 2271			ICG 1697			JL 24
	H. armigera	APHID	CONTROL	H. armigera	APHID	CONTROL	H. armigera	APHID	CONTROL	H. armigera	APHID	CONTROL	H. armigera	APHID	CONTROL
Chlorogenic acid	2339.65fA	1474.41gB	NA	7064.34dB	32954.21aA	5987.67eC	9222.49c	NA	NA	11477.63bA	NA	9719.77cB	NA	2282.57f	NA
Syringic acid	101.90fgA	135.64fA	93.94fgAB	2295.81deB	5942.56aA	2209.69deB	3795.67cA	167.73fB	NA	4304.26bA	NA	3864.49cB	277.23fC	3723.02cA	3527.23dB
Catechin	786.89bcCD	1031.21bC	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	5178.97aB	NA	5813.26aA	NA	NA	NA	NA
Genistin	120.51fF	983.09eE	5726.37bB	NA	NA	NA	NA	2534.14cC	NA	NA	NA	1843.45dD	64493.32aA	NA	NA
Ferulic acid	345.43bB	12.19deDE	89.24dD	NA	74.46dD	372.28bB	NA	1775.46aA	179.79cCD	NA	239.88bcBC	81.73dD	62.04dD	NA	NA
Quercetin	27.73cdC	77.04cC	NA	52.61cC	NA	78.10cC	NA	308.91aA	122.01bBC	141.76bB	173.01bB	NA	89.73cC	160.99bB	56.63cC
Cinnamic acid	NA	NA	8.27cC	NA	NA	10.29cB	NA	68.96bB	NA	308.03aA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
Caffeic acid	20.91	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
Umbelliferone	87.80	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
Dihydroxybenzoic acid	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	1201.06	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
Vanillic acid	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	190.33	NA

Notes: Values within a row with the same superscript upper case letters are not significantly different (P ≤ 0.05) across the treatments within a genotype. Values within a row with the same superscript lowercase letters are not significantly different (P ≤ 0.05) across the genotypes within a treatment.

Abbreviations: H. armigera, plants infested with Helicoverpa armigera; aphid, plants infested with Aphis craccivora.

Figure 1

HPLC chromatogram of ICGV 86699 plants infested with (A) H. armigera, (B) A. craccivora, and (C) untreated control plants.

Figure 2

HPLC chromatogram of ICGV 86031 plants infested with (A) H. armigera, (B) A. craccivora, and (C) untreated control plants.

Figure 3

HPLC chromatogram of ICG 2271 plants infested with (A) H. armigera, (B) A. craccivora, and (C) untreated control plants.

Figure 4

HPLC chromatogram of ICG 1697 plants infested with (A) H. armigera, (B) A. craccivora, and (C) untreated control plants.

Figure 5

HPLC chromatogram of JL 24 plants infested with (A) H. armigera, (B) A. craccivora, and (C) untreated control plants.

Discussion

The role of flavonoids in plants against insect herbivory has been well documented.11,18 They act as antifeedants and also affect the insect through antibiosis, thus regulating insect growth and development.12,19 The HPLC fingerprinting showed the presence/absence of peaks in H. armigera and A. craccivora-infested and uninfested groundnut genotypes. More number of peaks were observed in insect-infested plants, especially in the insect-resistant genotypes (ICGV 86699, ICGV 86031, ICG 2271, and ICG 1697) than in the susceptible check, JL 24. The content of the identified compounds differed across the treatments and the genotypes. The chlorogenic acid content in the insect-infested plants was greater than the control plants, except in ICGV 1697. Syringic acid of aphid-infested plants of ICGV 86031 was higher than the rest of the genotypes and/or treatments. Ferulic amounts were greater in the aphid-infested plants of ICG 2271 than the rest of the treatments and across genotypes. Peak areas and heights also differed across treatments and the genotypes. The most common compounds observed in insect-resistant genotypes were chlorogenic, syringic, quercetin, and ferulic acids. The ICGV 86031 plants infested with H. armigera showed larger peaks corresponding to chlorogenic acid and syringic acid. Infestation by A. craccivora also induced the production of several phenolic compounds, including chlorogenic acid, syringic acid, and ferulic acid, in ICGV 86699, ICGV 86031, ICG 2271, and ICG 1697. Caffeic acid and umbelliferone were observed only in H. armigera-infested plants of ICGV 86699. Similarly, dihydroxybenzoic acid and vanillic acid were observed in H. armigera- and aphid-infested plants of ICG 2271 and JL 24, respectively. Differences in induction of phenolics by H. armigera and A. craccivora were possibly due to the differences in the nature of damage by these insects. In addition, differences in the presence of various unknown compounds were observed in the insect-infested plants, although some of them were also expressed constitutively in the uninfested control plants. Many of these compounds are deployed by the plants against insect pests.2,4,9,20 Chewing and sap-sucking insects induce similar defensive responses in groundnut with varying degrees.20 The results showed that depending on the mode of feeding, flavonoids are induced differentially. Chlorogenic acid is considered as an important component of host plant resistance to insects in groundnut.21 The toxicity of chlorogenic acid against insect pests is ascribed to the production of the highly reactive chlorogenoquinone that reacts with nucleophilic –SH and –NH2 groups in proteins, thus reducing their availability to insect pests.7 Furthermore, differences in the number of peaks in control plants in different genotypes showed the variation of constitutive levels of resistance across the genotypes. Sharma and Norris3 observed the negative effect of flavonoids from soybean on Trichoplusia ni (Hub.). Flavonoid production has been found to confer resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) against Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith).22 Rutin (quercetin 3-O-glucosyl rhamnoside) and genistin negatively affected the behavior and physiology of Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and T. ni in soybean.23,24 Flavonoids drastically affect the insect growth and development when incorporated in artificial diets, for example, incorporation of rutin in artificial diet resulted in poor growth and development of a number of insect pests.21,25 H. armigera larvae fed on flavonoid-containing diet exhibited reduced larval survival and weights, which has been attributed to the alteration in insect digestive and detoxifying enzymes.12 The flavonoids quercetin dehydrate, rutin hydrate, and naringin at 1000 ppm showed mortalities of 85%, 93%, and 86%, respectively, in Eriosoma lanigerum (Haus.) in a twig dip assay.25 In addition, flavonoids scavenge the free radicals including reactive oxygen species and reduce their formation by chelating metals.11 However, some flavonoids have been found to act as feeding stimulants.26

Conclusion

Differential induction of plant secondary metabolites was observed in groundnut plants due to feeding by the chewing (H. armigera) and sucking (A. craccivora) type of insect pests, and the response varied between the insect-resistant and -susceptible genotypes. Some compounds such as caffeic acid and umbelliferone were found only in H. armigera-infested plants of ICGV 86699, while dihydroxybenzoic acid was observed in H. armigera-infested plants of the insect-resistant genotype, ICG 2271, and vanillic acid in aphid-infested plants of the susceptible genotype, JL 24.